*play opening 3*

In Trost, the Garrison is having a meeting for their next assignments and training when one of the regular soldiers intrudes on the office and informs Pyxis of the bad news.

Garrison Soldier: Commander Pyxis! Titans have been spotted! Wall Rose has been breached!

This made Hannes' eyes widen in horror and everyone else is disturbed. The elite trio's reaction was shocking just like how Pyxis reacted to this bad news. But Pyxis' resolve shifts back to being stoic and breathes to think about their next move.

In Stohess, the Scouts are still there and are now preparing to depart to rescue their friends near the Wall Rose. Armin, Mikasa, and Eren are packing their supplies on their cargo wagon before they depart.

Eren: What the hell does this mean at all? Damn it!

Armin: Though, would Titans break walls with Titans in them?

Eren: It happened before. They busted the wall into our city.

Armin: That's just the gate.

Eren was just surprised that he didn't even think of what he meant and Mikasa asked him.

Mikasa: Armin? What are you saying?

Armin: The thing about the walls... There are no crevices between the rocks or any signs of cracking. We can't tell how they're made except for the gates.

Armin's assumption gets to where hopefully it's not proven true.

Armin: So what if they're made of hardened Titan skin?

Eren and Mikasa's reaction was surprising as Armin remembered how Annie encased herself in her power.

Armin: It must be very versatile if Annie can encase herself with that material.

Eren: Titans... in the walls...

Meanwhile, Hange is looking at the microscope with Moblit still can't believe his leader is still looking at the material she's observing. A part of Annie's Titan Hardening crystal.

Moblit: Section Commander! What are you doing?! We're supposed to leave in 5 minutes! Please hurry!

Hange: Ok, I'm just trying to confirm something- *zooms in*

When she zoomed the lens in, she stopped as she something that looked surprising yet familiar. As she looked briefly at the book she found in Y/n's quarters filled with questions. But then she was called by Levi.

Levi: Hey, let's go.

Hange: Oh, sorry about me! What about him?

Levi: He's been at it for a while now.

Hange then nodded as she picked up two fragment materials on the table and moved ahead to meet up the rescue teams. One is the Hardening and the other is a piece of the 00 CORE Gundam's Armor.

The others are now getting ready to move out as Erwin, the Scout's elites, and anybody else who is joining in this operation are facing the gate. Meanwhile, Mikasa is making sure Eren is concealed from the eyes of the public by wearing the cloak.

Mikasa: Eren, wear it right. It's cold at night.

Hange: Sorry to keep you waiting. It took longer to prep on our side than we thought.

Armin saw the disgraced priest climb on along with Levi and Hange.

Armin: Um... Why did one of the priests from the Order come here?

Hange: Yeah. Nick and I are "best" buddies. Right? The whole makeup of this new additional squad doesn't make any sense. Right, Levi?

Levi: No, I think it has one. Erwin picked them out for a reason and he picked my own for a reason too.

Garrison: Open the gates!

The gate now opens as Erwin informs them quickly of the mission.

Erwin: The situation within Wall Rose is unclear. But everything up until Ehrmich is safe, we'll go through there. Move out!

Scouts: YES, SIR!

Levi: Let's move and follow up.

Scout: Yes, sir!

Erwin now gallops his horse out along with others to help out the remaining comrades' trap on the wall Rose. Then Armin looked briefly at the Walls as he thought of his hypothesis.

Armin: This whole time, Titans have been protecting us from the Titans. This doesn't add up.

As they move out, Hange and Levi bring them up to speed with Levi's former team guarding them around as they too need answers from Y/n's mysterious agenda and goal along with his Gundams.

Eren: Huh? He knew? There are Titans inside the walls and he's known about it for a long time?!

Hange: Yes, though, he shut his mouth about that issue the entire time. But now he's coming with us to witness the harsh reality... again. Will his belief be strong enough for him to stay silent about this? Or, will seeing it with his own eyes make him question himself?

Eren then stands up as he was pissed at knowing this now, which some would react this way.

Eren: No, no, no, no! This is all backward! If there's something you know, tell us about it! Nothing's more important than keeping humans from going extinct! Agh!

Eren gripped the side of his head as he was still recovering from using his berserk state that nearly cost his whole life.

Mikasa: Eren, settle down. You're still not fully healed.

Levi: Well, there's more than one way to get answers.

Levi holds Y/n's gun which has a silencer attached to it

Levi: I may be injured and useless right now, but it doesn't take much to watch one man confess or be riddled with bullets to his face. I can only hope we can settle this without going for the second option. Aren't you?

Hange: Threatening him doesn't work, Levi. Believe me, I've tried. 'If only Y/n was here...' Anyway, it seems to me that this priest is capable of sound judgment. So I wonder, what if the reason he doesn't want to talk about it is because he knows something more important than the fate of humanity?

This made everyone filled with interest in it.

10 hours before Rescue team arrives

Sasha is riding on her horseback doing the goal of spreading the word out of the Titans inside the Wall Rose. Y/n is now riding with them as they see another village nearby.

Sasha: See that? It's the village!

Scout: That's the last one?

Sasha: No! My village is deep in the forest!

Y/n: Ok. Sasha you and I-

Sasha: No! I'll go there alone!

Y/n: Wait, are you sure about this?!

Sasha: Yes, sir! I'm sure of it!

Y/n didn't argue anymore as she knew better about the village than anyone he only just gave her the go.

Y/n: Ok. Then the two of us will take care of this village, you take care of your village! Let's go!

Scout: Yes, sir!

Sasha: Got it!

Y/n moves his bike and the Scout's horse towards the village Sasha pointed out as Sasha was all alone now, going to the path towards her home. She can't remember any of her memories during her time there. But there's one memory she would never forget for her whole life.

Flashback

Hunter: Hey! Quit it, Sasha!

During that time, her father is calming her down as she was a wild glutton on their home. She didn't care what others saw her, all just for one small ration of meat.

Arthur: Sasha! You've been nabbing snacks again?! Stop! Spit it out! Get it out of your mouth! We fixin' to smoke that for winter, you moron!

Sasha didn't care as she bit it off while slipping his father's grips to her and ate it with no remorse.

Arthur: You dumb girl! Fine! Have it your way!

Sasha saw her father didn't resist anymore and just went to sit on the stairway to the door of their home. He was tired of her gluttony and removed his hat for a moment to wipe his sweat off before putting it back on and saying something to Sasha.

Arthur: Sasha. Have you ever asked yourself why the world is changing? Why are these past few years the forest hunting getting hard and our prey harder to find?

She kept consuming the ration and glaring towards him before answering him.

Sasha: It's cause more people are coming and taking food and games from the forest. That's why I'm hungry.

Sasha: Well, that's true. But also, they've lost their homes and have no place to go. So they had no other choice left but to abandon their homes.

Sasha: It's their fault for losing it. They need to leave ours.

Arthur: The Titans took it from them. They knocked a hole straight through Wall Maria. Where else can they go? You can feed a hell of a lot more people by clearing the forest and planting grain.

He looked at a tree stump with a bow and arrow placed on it. He was saddened by the choice he would make for his family.

Arthur: Maybe it's time for our family to let go of the forest and give up hunting for good. The government said they would pay us. Every horse that we raise is money in our pockets.

Sasha: *gasp* You got to be kidding! If we give up hunting, we would be giving up of who we are! Why should we give a hoot about the people who make fun of our lifestyle?!

Arthur: I'll tell you why. It's because we're all part of the same world.

He walks towards the nearby lake for a bit as he looked at his own reflection and Sasha looked at him.

Arthur: We humans, we've always been pack animals. Sure, we all live our different ways. But when space is this short, we gotta join the group and do what;s best to-

Sasha: No! I refuse! We've lived here all our lives, just like the way our ancestors taught us! We don't owe nothing to any outsiders!

He looked at him in worry as his eyes is asking her if she's really prepared for it.

Arthur: I see... So be it. You can live here in this forest, along with the others who think the same. But, Sasha, are you willing to risk your life for that choice?

Sasha's eyes began to see some consideration towards his question.

Arthur: No matter what trouble comes your way, you can't go begging for help. If you're not there for them, don't expect them to be there for you. As for me, I'm willing to give up our traditions if it means I can live with my family. It goes to show you that our world's connected, whether you like it or not.

He looked at Sasha's eyes filled with confliction and hesitation as he asks her about giving up something in exchange to protect something precious to you.

Arthur: Sasha, are you that much of a scaredy-cat? Is it that hard for you to leave this forest behind and get along with others?

Flashback end

Sasha: 'It's been 3 years since I've been back. Surely he realized something was wrong and fled already.'

As Sasha continues going towards the path on the way home. Her hunter senses perked up and saw the ground with footprint marks meaning that the Titans had gone over to her home turf as well, making her extremely worried.

Sasha: 'It can't be! Way out here?! They've already come this far?!'

As she continues to move forward the path with increased speeds. She concluded the situation in her home turf and its surrounding villages.

Sasha: 'This place isn't safe anymore.'

But as she comes out of the forest, she is greeted by a different village that was way out of place before she fled from her home.

Sasha: A new village, here?

On Y/n's side, he drops the last remaining villagers from his bike as the Scouts are now packing their horses and cargo wagon heading toward safety.

Y/n: I'm going back to check out Sasha. Keep these villagers safe for me!

Y/n revved his engine even before the Scout rookies could say anything to him as they watched his bike's tires kick the dirt toward them and head off to check on Sasha's side of things.

The Scouts wouldn't understand of his effort to get back because they're only recruits. But the bottom line is that they never would understand the guilt he's carrying right now. Not to mention how the revelation of the Titans' secret identities was just kicked into his head recently.

Inside one of the houses in the abandoned village, a girl is sitting there in fear and trauma.

She cannot move and just near her is a Titan eating his grandmother's leg. The grandmother is running out of breath and blood as she sees her granddaughter not moving at all. Good thing for the girl's safety, someone just arrived to get her moving at least for the moment.

Sasha: AAAAAAAAH!!!!

Sasha starts swinging the axe down brutally to the Titan's nape and the girl can only watch the brutality happening.

Sasha: 'Damn! If I don't slice it off, it'll just heal back up!'

Sasha goes for another swing but it misses as it flies towards the ceiling. But she saw the Titan not even flinching at all as it kept eating the elderly woman. Sasha then saw the child and was confused.

Sasha: A child?

She saw the grandmother try to mutter something to her but she couldn't. Sasha can only apologize and grieve for her untimely arrival. Sasha then takes the girl off and gets out immediately, not knowing the Titan has feasted on its food and saw the two escaping.

Sasha: What's your name?

The girl didn't answer as she was still in trauma and shock at what was happening before Sasha arrived here. Sasha then tries to prep her horse and ease the girl's mood for a bit.

Sasha: Don't worry, it's gonna be alright.

Kaya: What will?

Sasha: Huh? What? I mean-um... *tames the horse* Easy now, easy..

As she tries to explain to the girl her horse suddenly leaves her and the girl alone.

Sasha: HUH?! You're kidding me! Hey! Wait for us! *whistled out* Okay, no need to worry, understand? He'll be right back, I promise.

Kaya: How come you're talking so nice to me?

Sasha: What?

But then they saw the Titan from the house come out and the Titan started to chase them. Sasha then saw a bow and arrow to pick as she took the girl with her.

Sasha: It's gonna be okay!

Kaya: Why? Everyone already left. The whole village knew my mother's legs were bad. But yet, not a single person came to help. All I could was watch the horror.

Sasha can see the girl's emotionless, hollow eyes. She saw the helpless girl who tried to call out for help only to be abandoned by others who cowered in fear of their own selfish lives and did not become selfless to save a girl and an elderly woman at least.

Sasha then helped the girl get over the bridge but the bridge was unstable and she almost fell from the hole her foot made she regained balance and got over the bridge just before the Titan could reach them.

Sasha: It will be fine! I'll make sure of it!

Sasha watched the Titan who was now trying to get over the bridge as she looked at the girl while they were running to safety. She then remembered some memories during her 104th training years back.

Flashback

Sasha is picking a full bucket of water from the well, but Ymir suddenly disrupts her

Ymir: You're starting to tick me off.

Sasha: What?

Ymir saw Krista talking to Sasha and this made her a bit mad, thinking the wrong way of what was going on between the two.

Ymir: That stupid way you talk politely to everyone. Why don't you talk to other cadets like normal?

Sasha's personality during this time is like a stranger to everyone. She was known as the gluttoned hunter by some people but most only called her the gluttony food idiot of their batch. Sasha is introverted at this point, she can't talk to anybody like normal but soon changes when she meets someone.

Sasha: Um... Well, you see...

Ymir: *smirk* Wait. Let me guess. You're embarrassed by the way people sound from your village.

Sasha paused her thinking when she heard of it and started to feel embarrassed and shy from Ymir's right assumption.

Ymir: What's with the tomato face? Did I guess it right? I'm surprised an idiot like you cares so much. You can't do anything but hunt, and you're afraid of people, to top it off.

Others are busy one what they're doing but Y/n stops for a moment as he lets his buddies go ahead and get to the shed as he watches the conversation between the hunter and the self-proclaimed couples.

Ymir: I bet you don't have a single good reason for aiming to become a soldier. Your parents probably-

Krista: Hold on, Ymir. That's going-

Ymir: Sasha! Are you gonna care what other people think and be someone you're not your whole life? What a crock of shit. You're fine as is, so talk in your own words for crying out loud.

Sasha just takes the advice and tries to thank her.

Sasha: T-Thank you... very much.

Ymir: Huh?

Sasha: I'm... sorry... I'm not... yet...

But Krista suddenly just pushes Ymir's back off with her head as she just intervened in this conversation.

Krista: Cut it out! There's nothing wrong with the way she talks. Sasha is who she wants to be. It's her own decisions and words that will shape her who she is. That's what I liked about her.

Ymir: Hmph! Have it your way. Still, even if she changed the way she talks, it won't change the fact that she's annoying.

But then, Y/n entered the conversation as he complimented Sasha.

Y/n: I mean, it's in a good way, right? She still has much more to grow and learn after all. Someone who came from a life of forest hunting is a pretty rare sight to see in the military, I'll tell you that.

Ymir: *sarcasm* Oh, look who's here! The knight in shining armor himself! Here to come and take Krista yourself?!

Y/n: Well says the one who always takes Krista for herself.

Ymir: What did you just say?!

Krista: Ymir, calm down! Not everyone's as insensitive as you.

Ymir: Get out of the way Krista! Let them deal with this guy's brain rot ideas-

Sasha suddenly started laughing at the banter she was seeing as the three looked at her in curiosity and confusion. BUt as always, Ymir the hot-headed asked first.

Ymir: Hey! What are you laughing at?!

Sasha: Ah! I'm sorry!

Y/n: Don't mind about the hot-headed girl here. It's fine. I'm interested in how you hunt in your village.

Flashback end

As Sasha remembered the memory of that time she began doubting herself on why remembered it now while their lives were on the line.

Sasha: 'Why do I remember now of all times? About silly, pointless days in the past? It's all... I can think of.'

Her tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked at the girl and talked to her.

Sasha: Hey, listen up. You'll be fine. Keep following this path. Run as far as you can. I promise someone will be there to help you. You might not find them right away, but still, keep running until you can!

Flashback

Sasha: Say, Y/n.

Y/n: Hm?

Sasha: How do you do it?

Y/n: Do what?

Sasha: Saving others while also being a rumored monster by some folks in the Walls?

Y/n couldn't find the answers to the question but he answers her by speaking from experience.

Y/n: For me, I don't care about what they call me, all I do is just muster up all I got to save the people I could save. But if I can't reach the others in time no matter how hard I try, I'll just become something more to live up to their names. No matter what people say to me, I'll always protect this world and those who fight to live in this world's hidden beauty.

Sasha: What?

Y/n: I'll become selfless if that's what you want to know about what I'm saying. But of course, I'll become just a guy who all of you have known in these training days before I risk my whole life out on the battlefield.

Sasha then looked at her bruised hand and gripped it as she remembered her father's words to her before they fled their village.

Sasha; But how? How would I do it?

Y/n: That's for you to know and figure out. Because what I said is on my experience. So you need to find yours to see and believe it.

Flashback end

Now Sasha turns around as she throws the girl ahead and she faces the Titan with her bow and arrow pointed at the Titan.

Sasha: Now go! Run! Get running now!!

Those were enough to see her figure, the brave girl who faces the threat no matter what happens. The young girl's eyes are now filled with conviction and life as she starts running away calling for help.

Sasha could only see the girl running away as she started releasing her first shot and it hit the titan's neck but then she distanced herself more and then aimed at the eye which hit the left one. She fires another but it is missed and all she has left is only one arrow

Sasha: One more arrow. But if I miss this... we can't escape. Me and... my friends.

Sasha remembers the memory of Y/n who she helped sometimes on hunting food during their 104th days, and the other teammates who were silly and made her calm down about the meat they got. Finally, the girl who was running away for her safety in exchange for her life was on the line.

Sasha then takes the risk of jumping off as she shouts and stabs the other eye with all she has. But the Titan sensed her and tried to squish her with its tight embrace but she pushed the head up and cracked a bone in its jaw as she started running away she saw the Titan before was abnormal and had its mouth open and ready to eat her whole. Time slows as her life is finally coming to an end... but it didn't.

Y/n: Get down!

Sasha looked and saw Y/n briefly with something on his shoulder as he fired and she ducked making the Titan miss her and instead chow down on a projectile, making him fly back before the rocket exploded and kill the Titan in its red puddles of blood. She saw Y/n as she cried out to him

Sasha: Y/n!

Y/n: Thank goodness you're okay.

Y/n then returned the Bazooka model to his inventory but then they heard galloping horses as she saw her father Arthur along with the rest of her family.

Arthur: Huh? Sasha?

Sasha can't believe that her father is here and the girl from before is finally rescued. Sasha can't move at all and the sunlight has now come through from the dark clouds.

Y/n: You wanted to go to them, right?

Sasha looked at him, he was smiling and nodding at her meaning she could go.

Y/n: Go ahead. I'll catch up with you soon. I was called by someone who needed to meet immediately

As Sasha now rides along with the others on horseback her father talks to her about how they found her and the girl. The girl was in tears, finally having her nightmares over with it and her heroine be saved by another.

Arthur: We've been giving horses to everyone in the area. That girl told us someone was still back there. Who would've thought it was you? You fought off a Titan with that boy for the girl, didn't you?

He can only smile as Sasha sees this and pauses for a moment.

Arthur: Sasha, you are all the girl I hoped and grew for.

Sasha: Father...

Sasha had nothing to say but only put a small smile on her face as they continued evacuating to safety.

Sasha: I'm home.

Meanwhile, at Connie's side, Connie was in a rush as he was ahead of the Reiner, Bertholdt, and the other Scouts including Gelgar.

Reiner: Connie, wait! Calm down! There could be Titans anywhere! Get back here, Connie!

Connie was in desperation as he looked around to see if anyone was alive in the village.

Connie: This can't be... Anyone?! Is anyone there?! It's me! Connie! I came back!

But no one responded to his calls and then his mind came to another thing.

Connie: My house.

Connie then rushes to his house as he tries to think about his family

Connie: Sunny, Martin, Dad, Martin, Please be okay!

But as he gets to his home he suddenly stops his horse when he sees something unbelievable. A Titan lays there, at his crushed house.

Reiner: Connie! Get back!

Connie: It's... my house. My...

Reiner paused as he looked at Connie's house wrecked and a Titan lay there, not moving at all.

Reiner: Connie...

Gelgar: Fall back, you two!

Scout G: I'll scout the area!

Gelgar and Bertholdt saw this too as Gelgar began to think of what is going on.

Gelgar: Wait, it can't move?

Scout G: Not with those legs...

Gelgar: T-Then... How? How did it even get here?!

In the dark knight, Y/n now arrives at the location his holo map marked and turns off his bike's engines. He then looked around to find someone who he was requested to meet up with.

Meijin: You came at last.

He then hears Meijin's voice as he sees him and the Amazing Barbatos Lupus now de-cloaked behind him.

Y/n: Master Meijin III...

TBC

Chapter 3(Season 2): Gone South